Method of reinforcing concrete floors and the like, and a reinforcing element therefor

Claim 1

IN REINFORCED CONCRETE FLOORS AND OTHER SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY-EXTENDING, SELF-SUPPORTING CONCRETE STRUCTURES, HAVING AN UPPER SURFACE AND A LOWER SURFACE, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: (A) A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED, STRAIGHT STEEL RODS DISPOSED IN A FIRST HORIZONTAL PLANE ABOVE SAID LOWER SURFACE OF SAID FLOOR TO FORM BOTTOM REINFORCING MEANS; (B) AT LEAST ONE RECTANGULAR, CONTINUOUS STEEL LOOP, HAVING AT LEAST ONE END THEREOF BENT DOWNWARDLY TO PROVIDE VERTICAL LEGS AND A HORIZONTAL SUPPORT FOOT OF SUBSTANTIAL LENGTH FORMED BY THE END OF THE RECTANGLE, DISPOSED WITH SAID FOOT IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE ABOVE SAID LOWER SURFACE OF SAID FLOOR WITH SAID SUPPORT FOOT ESSENTIALLY THE SAME DISTANCE ABOVE SAID LOWER SURFACE AS SAID FIRST HORIZONTAL PLANE AND THE SIDES OF SAID RECTANGLE IN A SECOND HORIZONTAL PLANE ABOVE SAID FIRST HORIZONTAL PLANE AND IN THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID FLOOR TO FORM TOP REINFORCING MEANS; AND (C) SPACER MEANS IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID FLOOR TO TEMPORARILY SUPPORT AND SPACE SAID BARS AND SAID FOOT ABOVE SAID LOWER SURFACE OF SAID FLOOR.